Suriname

The project is being implemented under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Erica D’Aquila. She is living on the Upper Suriname River located in the district Sipaliwini, in the Saramaccan village Pempe (also known as Pingpe/Pen Pen).

Pempe has approximately 140 inhabitants, who all live off the land. Everything from their cooking oil, rice, vegetables, and housing materials come directly from Pempe’s surroundings.

Recent tests of Pempe’s drinking water (a local creek) have shown the water to be infested by various strains of E-coli and other hazardous bacteria. The effects of these contaminants is displayed by the fact that community members often suffer from waterborne illnesses, leaving adults unable to travel to their farms to harvest food and children vulnerable to the dangerous side effects of malnutrition.

The objective of this project is to bring clean drinking water to the men, women, and children of Pempe in a way that is sustainable by the community and available year round. The project centers around the acquisition of DuroTanks, which are large, round, covered tanks for the storage of 400 gallons of rainwater. These tanks are popular in the region, inexpensive, easy to maintain, and sustainable, lasting up to 25 years.

The community has committed to contribute a cash amount for each DuroTank, and provide all labor necessary. Labor includes transporting supplies to the village from Paramaribo, manually pulling sand from the bottom of the riverbed, making of cement stones, and setting up the gutters, stands, and netting.

Community members will participate in a three week training regarding DuroTank installation, maintenance, and water conservation classes. This training will result in community members being able to provide maintenance on the DuroTanks and ensuring their longevity.

Water Charity is participating in this ambitious and important project, which is now underway. We encourage you to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Erica of your donation. Additional funds over the project amount will be used to fund the next project by Erica and/or those of other PCVs in the country.

This project is to provide clean drinking water for the 600 residents that live in the village. The goal is to implement an accessible, sustainable, and easy-to-maintain system that will provide clean drinking water throughout the village.

To achieve its objectives, the community has planned a rainwater catchment program based on rooftop water collection and storage. The concept was arrived at after careful consideration of all of the options available to the village.

The project is intended to reduce the incidence of frequent gastro-intestinal illness prevalent due to the current use of contaminated water from the river. It will be carried out under the direction of Peace Corps Volunteer Amber Ray.

The project will utilize large, round, covered tanks, commonly known as “duro tanks”. These tanks are popular in the region, easy to maintain, and sustainable.

A total of 46 rainwater-harvesting tanks, each with a capacity to store 400 gallons, will be installed at convenient locations throughout the village.

Project funds will be used to purchase the tanks, gutters, fixtures, and materials.

Each of the 36 sections into which the village is divided will provide the labor for the installation and maintenance for each water system. The sections will also contribute the sand to make the concrete for the foundation of the stand for the tank.

The community will also contribute the labor for loading and unloading all materials and the use of the boat.

Each section will also communally donate a monetary contribution of 50 SRD (about $20 USD) per tank.

Members of the water committee will help train other villagers in proper maintenance of the duro tanks, which will expand their longevity to 20 years.

Basic sanitation concepts relating to clean water will also be taught to all the people of the village.

In providing readily-accessible safe water to the entire community using this appropriate technology, the standard of living will be improved, the work of retrieving water will be reduced, and illness will be drastically decreased.

The Water Charity participation in this project has been fully funded, through the generosity of Six Senses Resorts & Spas as a part of their Clean Water Projects initiative.

We encourage others to continue to donate using the Donate button below, and we will notify Peace Corps Volunteer Amber Ray of your donation. Additional funds will be used to fund the next project by Amber and/or those of other PCVs in the country.

This project has been finished. To read about the conclusion of the project, CLICK HERE.